Tickets $35/Students & Seniors $25
Available at the door or at the Cathedral office (646 Richards)
info 604.682.6774

Holy Rosary Cathedral presents Thierry Escaich - one of France's leading organists, composers, and improvisers, and winner of the French "Composer of the Year" award - in concert with the 2889 pipes of the Cathedral organ. Escaich considers performance, composition, and improvisation as bound together, and each will be on prominent display during his recital on Friday, April 17 (8 pm). Audience members will see the performance on a giant screen at the front of the church, as well as hear it.

Organist at St-Etienne-du-Mont in Paris since 1997 (where he succeeded Maurice Duruflé), Thierry Escaich is one of France's most distinguished organists, composers, and improvisers. Since 1990, when he ended his studies at the Paris Conservatoire having received eight first prizes, his first works have been rewarded with the Franco-American Florence Blumenthal Foundation prize, awarded unanimously by a jury made up of such figures as Elliott Carter, Henri Dutilleux and Maurice Ohana. More prizes have followed - awarded by the French Institute and SACEM (including the Grand Prix de la musique symphonique in 2004) after he was awarded the Grand Prix des Lycéens in 2002 en route to receiving the 2003 Victoires de la Musique Composer of the Year award.

"Escaich ... has produced a large body of musical compositions in all genres, and I have been particularly impressed by ... his orchestral music.""... one of the world's finest improvisers, crafting immense and compelling works ... with no preparation ... he is one of the most impressive."

Fanfare, May/June 2009

This recital is possible due to the generous assistance of the French General Consulate in Vancouver, co-producers of the event.